Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church Newsletter — November 2020

november 2020

On the Air with “Religion on the Line”

Inside

Deacon Bill Scholl Co-Hosting Sunday Morning Radio Show

“W

e don’t have to see eye to eye to walk shoulder to shoulder.”

2 Living Out Gratitude Rabbi Michael Zedek uses this phrase and Stewardship, often during the KCMO radio show called During Thanksgiving Religion on the Line, which he co-hosts with Reverend Dr. Robert Hill, Minister Emeritus and Beyond of Community Christian Church in Kansas City, and our very own Deacon Bill Scholl.

3 “ What’s in it For Us” For 26 years, Rabbi Zedek served as the SeMay Surprise You nior Rabbi of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, in Kansas City, Mo. Deacon Bill Scholl (right) takes a selfie with 4 Meet Parishioner “Religion on the Line explores the issues Rev. Bob Hill (left) and Rabbi Zedek (middle) on Joey Crane of the day through interreligious dialogue their first day together at the new 710 AM Talk and answers questions callers have about Radio studio at Corporate Woods. Before then, the faith,” Deacon Bill says.

6 Praying for the Holy show was broadcast from a studio in Mission.

Deacon Bill says this radio show is so Souls in Purgatory important because it not only presents faith topics from a variety of viewpoints, but it also demonstrates that people can have different views and still be friends.

7 Bakers Ministry Shares “Hearing from different religious traditions helps us better grasp and appreciate our Talents and Abundance own,” Deacon Bill says. “I try my best to explain Catholic teachings and practice, but I of Sweets for Parish always leave each show having learned something that makes me a better Catholic.”

Rev. Hill and Rabbi Zedek have been hosting this show for more than 28 Events and Celebrations years. Deacon Bill was asked by Archbishop Naumann to replace Deacon John Purk, who had co-hosted for more than 10 years. Deacon Bill has served as 7023 W. 71st Street the Catholic voice since November 2015. Occasionally, Deacon Jim Lavin fills in for him.

Overland Park, KS 66204 continued on back cover www.queenoftheholyrosary.org

Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h

LIVING OUT GRATITUDE AND STEWARDSHIP,

During Thanksgiving and Beyond

E

very November, as the holiday season fast approaches, we are filled with a deep sense of sentimentality and gratefulness for all of our blessings.

At the same time, we encounter many wonderful ways to give — to cheerfully share our own gifts — during this time of Thanksgiving.

It is with this spirit of gratitude that we can truly live out the stewardship way of life. This Thanksgiving, there are plenty of opportunities to do this in a direct way. Is there a family member or friend you haven’t spoken to for a long time, or someone who might be spending the holiday alone? Drop them an email, pick up the phone and call, or even catch up with them via Zoom or FaceTime — even virtually, connections at this time are essential! Perhaps you may volunteer at a soup kitchen, or you might donate a Thanksgiving meal to a family in need who wouldn’t have one otherwise.

For Black Friday, make it a point to donate old clothes that you or your family members no longer need. And as the winter draws closer, you might par-

ticipate in — or even organize — a coat drive, and then go out into the community to give the coats away to homeless shelters and those in need during the winter months. There are countless such opportunities to live in gratitude and thanksgiving — opportunities that go beyond just having a meal at home.

Of course, we must remember that this spirit of thanksgiving does not end after Thanksgiving, nor does it end following Advent and Christmas. We must always consider how to give, even as the glow of the holiday season fades after the New Year. In January, if there is abundance in your closet, give away from that abundance. In February, if there are volunteers needed at the soup kitchen, give of your time. We need a renewed spirit of stewardship and thanksgiving that lasts the whole year so that our giving becomes habitual, and not just seasonal.

This Thanksgiving, ask the Holy Spirit where He is calling you to give. And may the joy of the Thanksgiving season flow into our lives as good stewards, every day and throughout the entire year.

Of course, we must remember that this spirit of thanksgiving does not end after Thanksgiving, nor does it end following Advent and Christmas. We must always consider how to give, even as the glow of the holiday season fades after the New Year. In January, if there is abundance in your closet, give away from that abundance. In February, if there are volunteers needed at the soup kitchen, give of your time. We need a renewed spirit of stewardship and thanksgiving that lasts the whole year so that our giving becomes habitual, and not just seasonal.

2

A Letter From Our Pastor

“What’s in it For Us” May Surprise You Dear Parishioners,

Y

ou already know that our parish is committed to living as intentional disciples of Christ through the holistic practice of stewardship. What you may not know is that one of our inspirations and mentors is the late Msgr. Thomas McGread of the Diocese of Wichita.

Who was Msgr. McGread?

Msgr. McGread was a humble, servant priest who created a model for how stewardship should be practiced — both here and in many Catholic parishes across the country. What began simply with Msgr.

McGread applying his stewardship principles at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Wichita — where he served as pastor for 31 years — has become a way of life for our parish family and for Catholics around the nation.

With such an incredible blueprint from this visionary priest, how could we go wrong?

We have truly embraced stewardship here at Queen of the Holy Rosary, and for that, I am blessed and grateful.

From the beginning, however, the question “What’s in it for us?” had to be on our minds as our efforts to educate parishioners and promote the stewardship way of life were introduced.

At first, “What’s in it for us?” seemed to center on what people were willing to do to give back to God as part of practicing their faith and living as disciples of Jesus Christ.

While this is important, there is so much more to it.

The truth is, “What’s in it for us?” is really about “What’s in it for you?”

“What’s in it for you?” perhaps is best explained as one simple principle — cultivating a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

When Christ calls us to discipleship, He is also calling us to be faithful stewards of our time, talent and treasure.

Our gratitude for these gifts is best expressed through giving a portion of each back to God. Thus, stewardship becomes a way of life that is also the way to holiness. Our

relationship with Christ is what we get in return.

Our efforts as a parish to promote the spiritual benefits of active stewardship are designed to foster a deeper relationship with God for all of us. Membership in a parish family should encourage, support, and celebrate that relationship with the living God, first and foremost. Everything else flows from that.

If we are not focused on our relationship with God, then what will define our spirituality?

If we have embraced the blessings of stewardship as a practical way of being the disciples we are called to be, we will in turn know a deeper relationship with Christ.

We celebrate Thanksgiving this month, which truly is a stewardship holiday since stewardship begins with an attitude of gratitude. I am truly thankful for all that is done here at Queen of the Holy Rosary, and for the many parishioners willing to do so much.

In closing, let me share one final thought to help you realize the gift that our parish is to each and every one of us.

Be grateful for all you have.

Be generous in giving something back to God. Be faithful stewards, and you will have done both.

That is what’s in it for you, and in turn, that is what’s in it for us!

And don’t forget — God has been doing this for centuries. We’re just the latest and most fortunate recipients.

Happy Thanksgiving, and may God bless you and your family.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. William Bruning Pastor

3

Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h

Meet

Parishioner

I

Joey Crane Grateful for the P

n 2018, Joey Crane attended a Mass at Queen of the Holy Rosary for the first time when his thengirlfriend, Liz, asked if he would like to come to Mass with her for Ash Wednesday. The Holy Day just happened to fall on Feb. 14 that year, and St. Valentine must surely have been smiling down on the couple that day. For now, less than three years later, not only are Joey and Liz husband and wife, but Joey is also a member of the Catholic Church!

Joey was raised in the Methodist church but had drifted away from the faith during his college years.

When he attended Mass at Queen with Liz, however, he was drawn in by Fr. Bill’s authenticity and the welcoming atmosphere of our parish. He began coming to Mass with Liz every week, and by the summer of 2019, he was excited to sign up for our Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process, or RCIA. Before the RCIA classes began, Joey was blessed to experience a pretty remarkable “preview” of many Church teachings in a very special place — Vatican City.

“Liz and I got married on Aug. 31 and had our honeymoon in Rome and the Vatican,” Joey says. “So I kind of joked that my pre-RCIA lesson was going to the Vatican and spending three days doing tours.

We had a papal blessing as a new married couple, and the whole experience was just amazing. The trip was mind-opening and made RCIA a different experience for me because I had physically seen so much of the history of the Catholic Church.”

Attending RCIA classes after his trip to Italy, Joey was even more impressed by the historical perspectives offered, as well as the complex connections that Fr. Bill made between Scripture from the Old and New Testaments. With so much to learn, it was reassuring to hear from Liz and his good friend and RCIA sponsor, Brian, that adults who have been raised in the Church often have just as many questions about the faith.

4

Joey Crane and his wife, Liz, awaiting the papal blessing of their marriage at St. Peter Basilica in Vatican City, 2019

“Both Liz and Brian said that it was great as lifelong, born-into-the-faith Catholics to go through the RCIA process because there is so much that they had forgotten or took for granted,” Joey says. “So they thought all lifelong Catholics should go through RCIA. It was refreshing to me to know I’m not supposed to know it all. I’ll still be learning until I die.”

Even as he realizes that there is always more to learn, Joey is thankful to now have a stronger foundation in the faith.

“I had never been comfortable talking about faith because I didn’t have a good base in it,” he says. “So just reaffirming that basic knowledge of where our Christian faith comes from has made me feel like more of an active participant. I’m part of this again.

Having faith back as one of the priorities in my life has helped me with giving a little bit more grace and mercy towards others.”

In March, our parish RCIA classes moved from in-person to Zoom meetings. Even in this unforeseen

Path and People That Led Him Home to the Catholic Church circumstance, Joey was able to find the hidden blessings.

“I feel fortunate to have done RCIA this year through the pandemic,” he says. “It made me realize just how important physical community and the ability to shake a hand and give someone a hug is.

When the church closed, I was missing going to Mass, even with not being able to receive the Eucharist yet.

So the physical Mass and that community are things we take for granted, and it hit home to me even more just how important community is.”

Since our candidates and catechumen were not able to be received fully into the Church at our Easter Vigil Mass, Joey received the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation on June 28. Thrilled to become even more a part of our close faith community, he looks forward to getting involved in parish life as things continue to open back up. Currently, he and Liz enjoy participating in a small faith-sharing group with some fellow parishioners, and both plan on seeking more ways to share their gifts with the Church in the years to come.

Life has certainly changed for Joey since he first set foot in our parish on that Ash Wednesday-Valentine’s Day less than three years ago. Reflecting on where the Lord has led him, Joey is grateful for the path.

“My wife, Liz, is my biggest supporter,” Joey says.

“She has definitely changed my life. I’m glad it took me 40 years to find the right person. My mom always

told me, ‘God has someone special picked out for you.’

I may have lost that belief in my 20s and 30s, but He won, He got me, He had my back — and I’m very grateful that He had someone special for me.”

Joey and Liz Crane on their wedding day in August 2019

“I had never been comfortable talking about faith because I didn’t have a good base in it. So just reaff irming that basic knowledge of where our Christian faith comes from has made me feel like more of an active participant. I’m part of this again. Having faith back as one of the priorities in my life has helped me with giving a little bit more grace and mercy towards others.” — JOEY CRANE

5

Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h

PRAYING FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY

M

any Catholics are aware that the Church dedicates the first two days of November — All Saints Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2 — to commemorating and praying for the souls of the faithful departed. But did you know that during the entire month of November, the Church places a special emphasis on praying for the souls in purgatory?

The Church has always taught us to pray for the souls of those who have passed on from this life.

Even in Old Testament times, prayers and alms were offered for the souls of the dead by those who thought “well and religiously concerning the resurrection” (Liturgical Meditations, The Sisters of St. Dominic). And in the early days of the Church, St. Paul further emphasized the importance and responsibility of not only remembering our brothers and sisters who have passed away, but actively praying for them: “For the Lord himself... will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will first rise” (1 Thess 4:16).

Because of the very state of the holy souls in purgatory, we as earthly brothers and sisters in Christ are closely connected to those who passed on from this life. We share in the peace of knowing that salvation will one day be obtained, but are simultaneously suffering in separation from God. The Church also teaches that we have the opportunity to play a big part in helping these souls through their period of purgation, so that they may soon enjoy eternal glory with the Lord.

This month, please make a special effort to offer prayers for your deceased friends and loved ones, and all those who have passed away in the grace and friendship of God. Offering a Mass for someone who has passed away is an especially fruitful way to honor the memory and bring comfort to a holy soul in purgatory.

6

PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY O Lord, who art ever merciful and bounteous with Thy gifts, look down upon the suffering souls in purgatory. Remember not their offenses and negligences, but be mindful of Thy loving mercy, which is from all eternity. Cleanse them of their sins and fulf ill their ardent desires that they may be made worthy to behold Thee face to face in Thy glory. May they soon be united with Thee and hear those blessed words which will call them to their heavenly home: “Come, blessed of My Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Amen.

Bakers Ministry

SHARES TALENTS AND ABUNDANCE OF SWEETS FOR PARISH EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS

T

here are about 250 parishioners here at Queen of the Holy Rosary who lovingly share their time and talent to make sure we have an abundance of delicious home-baked goods to enjoy. Even though their work has been on hold during the pandemic, we can be assured that when they can, the members of the Bakers Ministry will be ready to bake once again.

Mary Kay Dillingham chairs the ministry that has been in place here for many years.

“We bake for different events,” Mary Kay says.

“The Queen’s Ladies Ministry holds up to three bake sales a year and we also make cookies for sacramental receptions, such as for RCIA or if we are welcoming a new priest. We also usually bake for the Lenten dinners. We’re at their beck and call!”

She knows how many cookies will be needed for a reception when she gets a call with the number expected, from the Director of Religious Education.

The bake sales feature many of the bakers’ specialties — and customers can be assured nothing is store-bought.

When Mary Kay receives a call for baked goods, she turns to her extensive email list to recruit bakers to meet the number of goods requested. She also has a small phone list for those who don’t use email.

The annual bake sales are traditionally held the weekend before Thanksgiving, the weekend of Palm Sunday, and Father’s Day weekend. These have been canceled this year, however, due to the pandemic.

“The fall bake sale is traditionally stocked with pies,” Mary Kay says. “It’s really interesting — some ladies have made baked goods for the sales for years, and they have a following. Everyone loves their baked goods and are disappointed if these ladies are not in it.”

The Bakers Ministry offers their work in stewardship for the parish, providing hospitality and welcome. They make time in their schedules to help where they are needed.

“A lot of people who work full-time do like to bake,” Mary Kay says. “They’re always willing to do that.”

New bakers are always welcome to join the ministry. Anyone interested in signing on may call Mary Kay Dillingham at 913-677-1883.

7

Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h

7023 W. 71st Street Overland Park, Kansas 66204 (913) 432-4616 | www.queenoftheholyrosary.org

Religion on the Line continued from front cover Deacon Bill admits he was initially a bit hesitant to take over as co-host, mostly because of the early hour and the time commitment.

“However, I always try to be docile to the Holy Spirit by being open to new opportunities, especially if they scare me a little bit,” Deacon Bill says.

He also enjoys being a part of this show because he is passionate about sharing his faith with those who agree and those who disagree. He finds it to be a great way to better understand the faith and learn where “blind spots” are.

“Being involved in Religion on the Line has helped me encounter so many different people in ways that have grown and honed my Catholic faith,” he says.

Deacon Bill encourages all parishioners to consider what their vocation might be and say “yes” to the Lord’s call — he believes great things happen when you give that “yes.” He quotes James 1:22, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.”

“The fact that God has brought you to Queen is an indication that He is calling you to serve at the parish in some special way,” he says.

The Religion on the Line radio program can be heard on Sunday mornings from 6 to 8 a.m. on KCMO-710 AM and 103.7 FM. Deacon Bill Scholl invites parishioners to listen and call into the show.

WEEKEND MASS

Saturday: 4:00 p.m. | Sunday: 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.

DAILY MASS

Monday - Friday: 8:15 a.m.| First Saturday: 8:15 a.m.